According to a release from Valve sent to Kotaku, Apple had approved the Steam Link app earlier this month. Then the tech colossus and avowed headphone jack hater un-approved it.

“On Weds, May 9th, Valve released news of the app. The following morning, Apple revoked its approval citing business conflicts with app guidelines that had allegedly not been realized by the original review team,” said Valve.

Valve appealed the decision, claiming that Steam Link is a LAN-based remote desktop app—something you can find plenty of on the App Store. However, that wasn’t enough for Apple, who turned down the appeal. Now it’s stuck in limbo. Valve added, however, that “we hope Apple will reconsider in the future.”

For now, Valve has had its creation rejected by a major platform and isn’t entirely sure why. Come to think of it, the situation seems kinda familiar, but I can’t recall why.

You’re reading Steamed, Kotaku’s page dedicated to all things in and around Valve’s wildly popular PC gaming service."

"Valve says Apple has denied approval for the iOS version of its Steam Link app—which allows users to stream PC games from a computer on the same home network—after Apple initially approved the app earlier this month.

"On Monday, May 7, Apple approved the Steam Link app for release," Valve said in a statement sent to Ars. "On Wednesday, May 9, Valve released news of the app. The following morning, Apple revoked its approval citing business conflicts with app guidelines that had allegedly not been realized by the original review team."

Despite that, "Ultimately, that appeal was denied, leaving the Steam Link app for iOS blocked from release," Valve says. "The team here spent many hours on this project and the approval process, so we're clearly disappointed. But we hope Apple will reconsider in the future."

While the Steam Link app doesn't have any built-in functionality allowing for direct game purchases, users can easily buy and download Steam games to the connected PC through the Big Picture mode interface while connected through the app. It's plausible this functionality ran afoul of Apple's guidelines, which require a 30-percent revenue share for any "in-app purchases."

A Business of Apps analysis estimated that games were responsible for 49% of all iOS App Store revenues in 2017, bringing in billions of dollars in fees for Apple. The free Steam Link app, on the other hand, would not have provided any direct revenue to Apple while competing directly for attention with downloadable iOS games.

"Valve says Apple has denied approval for the iOS version of its Steam Link app—which allows users to stream PC games from a computer on the same home network—after Apple initially approved the app earlier this month.

"On Monday, May 7, Apple approved the Steam Link app for release," Valve said in a statement sent to Ars. "On Wednesday, May 9, Valve released news of the app. The following morning, Apple revoked its approval citing business conflicts with app guidelines that had allegedly not been realized by the original review team."

Despite that, "Ultimately, that appeal was denied, leaving the Steam Link app for iOS blocked from release," Valve says. "The team here spent many hours on this project and the approval process, so we're clearly disappointed. But we hope Apple will reconsider in the future."

While the Steam Link app doesn't have any built-in functionality allowing for direct game purchases, users can easily buy and download Steam games to the connected PC through the Big Picture mode interface while connected through the app. It's plausible this functionality ran afoul of Apple's guidelines, which require a 30-percent revenue share for any "in-app purchases."

A Business of Apps analysis estimated that games were responsible for 49% of all iOS App Store revenues in 2017, bringing in billions of dollars in fees for Apple. The free Steam Link app, on the other hand, would not have provided any direct revenue to Apple while competing directly for attention with downloadable iOS games.

Looks like Phoenix can't play games on his iphone anymore using steam link. In short, Apple didn't want users jumping ship to Steam instead of App store for games.

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The big problem with that line of thinking is that Steam Link is basically a remote desktop app, which are allowed, and only works when you're at home because it's a LAN and not a cloud service. Not to mention it requires users to already have a computer with a Steam library, so it's not like they're dipping their toes in Steam or PC gaming for the first time. You're probably right as to how Apple views the matter – protecting the walled garden at the expense of user choice is nothing new, and it's why people jailbreak. The irony is that those still interested will have to buy a Windows or Android TV alternative to the Apple TV, and that could indeed result in fewer App Store sales.